Filed to story: Two Vampire Brides (Vera & Lucien) Book PDF Free
“Like what?” Neressa asked.
“Like information,” Lady Vela said. “Information about her mother. About how she really died.”
The room fell silent.
“You know something,” I said. “About Vera’s mother.”
“I know everything,” Lady Vela said quietly. “I was there when it happened.”
“What?” Celene gasped.
“Her mother didn’t die in childbirth,” my mother continued. “She was murdered.”
“By who?” I demanded.
“That’s information I’ll only share with Princess Vera,” Lady Vela said. “In exchange for a chance to make things right.”
“You’re going to blackmail her,” Neressa said in disbelief.
“I’m going to give her what she wants most,” my mother corrected. “The truth about her heritage. And in return, she’ll give us what we need-a chance to prove our loyalty.”
“And if she refuses?” Celene asked.
“Then we’re all dead,” Lady Vela said simply.
The room fell silent.
“By helping her prepare for what’s coming,” my mother replied. “Because the First Vampire isn’t just coming for her. He’s coming for all of us.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“He’s planning to remake the vampire world,” Lady Vela said. “To return to the old ways, when royal blood ruled absolutely. And everyone who isn’t royal, everyone who doesn’t serve the crown, will be eliminated.”
“Eliminated?” Neressa repeated.
“Killed,” my mother said bluntly. “Or worse. Turned into blood slaves.”
The room fell silent as the implications sank in.
“So what do we do?” I asked.
“We go to her,” Lady Vela said. “We offer our services. We prove that we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make amends.”
“And if she refuses?” Celene asked.
“Then we die,” my mother said simply. “But if she accepts, we might just survive what’s coming.”
VERA’S POV
“You’re late,” Caelen said before I even reached the edge of the training circle.
“I’m ten minutes early.”
“You’re late to who you need to be,” he replied, tossing me a silver blade that gleamed wickedly in the moonlight. “That’s what matters.”
The sword slapped into my palm with more weight than I expected. I tightened my grip, ignoring the urge to roll my eyes. We stood alone in the open courtyard behind the east tower, the stones slick with night dew, the air already thick with the scent of jasmine and impending storm.
“You know, most people start the evening with a greeting,” I said. “Maybe even a compliment.”
He smirked, his fangs glinting. “Compliments are for achievements. You haven’t earned any yet.”
“Good evening to you too.”
He stepped into the circle and rolled his shoulders, his movements fluid and predatory. “For now, I’m your trainer. Not your audience. I’ll teach you blood combat and power control beyond your understanding.”
“How generous.”
“No,” he said, drawing his blade from his hip with a flourish. “Necessary. Because if you walk into the Council chambers or a battlefield like you did yesterday, someone’s going to drain you with a smile.”
I scowled. “Thanks for the confidence boost.”
“Confidence without skill is a liability,” he shot back. “Now. Show me your blood magic.”
“I told you, I don’t know how to-“
“Cut yourself,” he interrupted. “Draw blood. Make it move.”
I stared at him. “You want me to cut myself?”
“You’re a vampire princess,” he said. “Blood is your weapon. Your shield. Your source of power. If you can’t control it, you’ll never control anything else.”
I drew the blade across my palm, wincing as it bit deep. Blood welled up, dark and shimmering with that royal power everyone kept talking about.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Make it dance,” he said simply.
I focused, trying to remember how I’d done it before. The blood in my palm began to move, forming tentacles that writhed through the air.
“Better,” Caelen said. “But sloppy. You’re letting your emotions control the flow instead of your will.”
“I’m trying,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Try harder.”
The blood lashed out wildly, striking the ground, the walls, everything except what I was aiming for.
“Again.”
I reset my stance and tried to focus. This time the blood moved more smoothly, forming a whip that cracked through the air.
“Good. Now defend.”
He came at me fast, his own blood flowing from a cut on his wrist to form a blade in his hand. I barely managed to block with my blood whip, the impact sending shockwaves through my arm.
“Too slow,” he said, pressing his attack. “And too obvious.”
Sweat stung my eyes despite the cool night air. I tried to counter, but my blood weapons were clumsy, unpredictable.
“You’re telegraphing every move. It’s like sparring with a child.”
“Maybe because I’ve only been trained for five minutes!”
“And already whining?” he said, his blood blade slicing through my defenses. “You think the battlefield listens to excuses?”
“Maybe if the battlefield didn’t talk so damn much!”
“You’ll be dead before your second sentence.”
“Shut up and fight me.”
I poured more power into my blood magic, feeling the drain on my energy. He parried my attacks effortlessly, his movements calculated and precise while I was gasping.
My blood weapons wavered.
My arms shook.
I let the magic dissipate, panting, throat burning from frustration and exhaustion.
“I’m done,” I muttered. “This is pointless.”
Caelen’s voice dropped, ice-cold and cutting. “You’re not a princess.”
I looked up, eyes burning. “What?!”
He stepped forward. “You’re not a queen. You’re not even close.”
“Watch your mouth.”
“I’m watching your hands. They’re shaking.”
“You’ve been doing this your entire life! I’ve had weeks. What do you expect from me?”
“I expect you not to quit the moment someone pushes harder than you’re used to,” he said, not shouting, worse, calm. “I expect the heir of the vampire throne to fight when her muscles scream. You think a crown waits for someone who gets tired and throws down her power like a sulking child?”
“I’m not sulking!”